Determining the feasibility of objective adherence measurement with blister packaging smart technology

Area of Science:

• * Pharmacoeconomics and Health Services Research
• * Digital Health and Medical Device Technology

Background:

• * Objective measurement of medication adherence is crucial for effective therapy.
• * Microprocessor-driven systems are being developed to track medication removal from packaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To report the feasibility of blister-pack smart technology for monitoring medication adherence.
• * To evaluate the Smart Blister device in a clinical practice setting.

Main Methods:

• * A feasibility study involving 115 Dutch patients on valsartan maintenance therapy.
• * 14-day blister packages equipped with the Smart Blister device were used.
• * Data on tablet removal were collected from returned blister cards via scanning.

Main Results:

• * The Smart Blister system effectively recorded patient and blister-card data in most cases.
• * 17% of instances showed simultaneous tablet removal, indicating a need for design improvements.
• * Patients and pharmacies generally accepted the Smart Blister medication cards.

Conclusions:

• * The Smart Blister demonstrates potential for real-world medication adherence monitoring.
• * Further design refinements and performance testing are necessary for optimal functionality.
• * The technology shows promise for enhancing patient counseling and therapy management.